Wonderful idea thank you

Wonderful idea thank you

"you'll take your eye out!"

Like they say "It's all fun and games 'til someone loses an eye - then it's a sport".

What no faith in my skill? I like sports:)

I've thought about getting a crossbow many times. Is one model better than another? Is there a book or site for folks new to crossbows?

Oldschool, consider a crossbow.
Shoots like a gun, a lot less skill needed than traditional archery, not dependent on physical strength, perfectly capable of taking all sizes of game out to 50 yards once you practice a bit. Maybe 30 yards till you get good.
I'll be getting proficient this year, mostly because the gun season for deer is one week, for archery it's 3 months. Oct 1 to Dec 31.

AND, no gun license needed. You would still have to take the Hunter Ed course to buy your deer or small game tag.

The Excaliber line is made right in Cambridge. Considered among the very best. Good customer service.
http://www.crossbowforum.com/ might answer some of your questions

I like what Perfesser was getting at when they said

"I would work in order of priority. What do you need most or rather most often.
Food + water every day. 3 times!
Lights and heat every night."

A Mormom Preparedness book you can download off the internet talks about "Rule of Threes," meaning:

You can die of asphyxiation in three minutes, exposure to the elements in three hours (or three minutes even), dehydration in three days, and starvation in three weeks.
I.E. Priorities are Air, Shelter/Clothing, Water, and Food [and Security/Safety],

So "Skills List" should cover those first. [Note that I am going to ignore "tools" and "things", and, air].

Shelter/Clothing: can you make an emergency shelter from natural or recycled materials? Can you repair a shelter you already have? Can you repair your existent clothes if they break, or modify them for changing conditions? Can you make new clothes?
[Ex. I have read up on the topic, and tried to start building a debris shelter before, but have not really practiced this yet - thus I have knowledge of principles, but no "skills"] [Ex. I know that you can enhance your clothing situation by stuffing dry leaves or crumpled newspaper into your clothes for added insulation, and, a garbage bag makes a half-decent impromptu rain poncho]

Water: Do you know multiple ways of getting clean drinking water in an emergency situation, urban, rural, or wilderness?
[Ex. Solar stills; ways to collect morning dew; plants to get water from; ways to filter and purify water]

Food: Do you know you know wild edible plants, how or when to eat them or not eat them, how to find/recognize them any time of the year? Are you skilled at hunting, fishing, trapping? Are you a skilled gardener/farmer?

Defense: Do you know how to lie-low and avoid being seen, thus, avoid confrontations? Do you have hand-to-hand self defense? Are you proficient with knives, sticks/clubs, bows, firearms, etc.? Do you have a strategic mind or skills?

I guess there's other things, like how to get around, (Can you cover your tracks while hiking? Can you fix your bug-out-vehicle i.e. bike, canoe, car, etc.?), how to deal with added emergencies (ex. trauma or medical problems), how to read people and situations (re: avoiding confrontations), and so on.

Greetings All
I just joined this network recently. Being ex-military I have to agree with a lot of what has be said here so far. Some incites that I have found along the way, on handguns if it takes you longer than 1-1/2 seconds to recover aim and shoot again, the gun is too powerful for you. the difference between a 44 mag and a 22 LR, if you miss your first shot with the 44 mag, the other guy can pump off 7-10 rounds in your direction.
On another note, take a look on Google for Sling shot bows. They are neat. I have done a bit of improv on the arrows and I have used bamboo sticks bought at the green house with a bit of fletching using gun tape and bit of scrap metal for a tip. I might not be great for hunting, but it might do for self defense against a knife wielder. Any who, I'm planning a prep meet in two weeks, in London for any who would like to partake in sharing knowledge. Gibraltar market shelter, 1pm.

Remember "We prepare, to live after a downfall, not just survive"

I don't know how they would classify a sling bow but I know for a fact that

crossbows shorter than 500 mm or which can be fired with one hand are banned in Canada,

Being that it takes two hands to fire a sling shot, and the arrow velocity is well under 350'/sec. This weapon has no classification. The draw length, of the arrow being use should be 4-6" or 15cm longer then the distance from your right cheek to the V of your left hand. If you need to change the tubing on the sling shot to do this than you had better start looking. The black tubing has the strongest pull. Go to YouTube to see the different set ups. Are you allowed to hunt with this?, I doubt it, but for recreational shooting, I don't think that they will bother you, just don't say that you plan to hunt or protect yourself with it. If there are any law enforcerers out there that can shed more light on the subject than please do it and don t shoot the messenger.

Home made slingshot bows are legal for target practice but a pistol crossbow is prohibited in Canada. If your looking at enhancing your skills for a shtf situation I would go and take your firearms course and then buy a few guns. Educated and practice on using them and how they work look into joining a gun club or range and get proficient at the skills required to defend yourself and your property in a no law society. A crossbow is a great option and Excalibur, horten, ten point are three of the top of the line bows but you will pay more for them. You can hunt anything with a crossbow and they are lethal in a defence situation but remember you will only get the one shot, reloading will take time and if your target (enemy) is armed you better make that one shot count!!

I'm sure the slingbow is a cute toy to have for amusement. But IMHO learning how to make and set traps and snares is a more productive way to get your protein. I can set up a couple dozen squirrel snares as quick as making a slingbow. If you have arrows, why not make an expediant bow. If I'm going to make a weapon to hunt with, I think I'd prefer a real one, not a toy. I've seen a few youtube videos about slingbows. For the most part, for them to be effective, the shooter had to be almost close enough that he could use a club. If I'm going to use an arrow or a bolt, I'd rather use a bow or crossbow that the projectile was designed for.

Just my 2 cents worth.

How many people do you know can make a crossbow that would work? Would you trust you neighbor to make a bow, to provide food with? Unless the person has had some training on what kind of wood to use, and whether it can be green or seasoned, a sling bow is better than nothing. Have you tried a slingbow, I have, and with PRACTICE, yes you could hunt small game (deer, included). How many people out there are willing to learn how to make a trap?
““Homemade Bows and Arrows - by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E. ...
A Quick Homemade Bow. Accuracy Range: 10 to 20 feet. Wood: Yew, willow, locust, cedar, hickory, ash, oak, elm, birch, or maple (never use pine or a dead tree).”” It's the operator that makes a tool work, not the other way around.

I don't know how they would classify a sling bow but I know for a fact that

crossbows shorter than 500 mm or which can be fired with one hand are banned in Canada,

slings? you can buy them in canadian tire, with metal shots. not illegal in the slightest

I use to have a sling shot with the 1/2" tubing, and it was classified as a hunting slingshot (got a few squirls and racoons with it). Cant find that size any more, the small tubing that they use today is good for plinking but nothing else, unless, you double it up. 😎